Shuttle driving mechanism for weaving looms or machines



March 16, 1954 W. KEN. S/2,164 SHUTTLE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WEAVING LOOMS OR MACHINES Filed Sept. 29, 1952 5 Sheetwet l Il MI I Inventor-' Filed Sept. 29, 1952 March 16, 1954 W. KEN. 2,672,164 SHUTTLE DRIVING MEcHANIsM FOR wEAvING Looms 0R MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March M59 3.954 W, KE|L 2,672,164

SHUTTLE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WEAVING LOOMS OR MACHINES Filed Sept. 29, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 www Patented Mar. 16, 1954 G MECHANISM FOR WEAVING LOOMS OR MACHINES Willi Keil, Krefeld, Germany Application September 29, 1952, Serial No. 311,990 Claims. (C1. 139-136) SHUTTLE DRIVIN In weaving looms or weaving machines hereinafter in this specification and the claims hereof called looms, the shuttle is caused to travel through the shed usually in flat looms by an impulse imparted to the shuttle which ejects it from its box at one side of the shed and causes it to y freely through the shed until braked or brought to a stop in the box at the opposite side of the shed and set in motion afresh in the opposite direction. In circular looms it has been proposed instead of driving the shuttle by impulse or impact, to drive it forward positively on its circular path in a direction which is always unidirectional but the driving means is comparatively complicated and is only adapted to be used l on circular looms. The customary sudden pro- `iection of the shuttle in flat looms is disadvantageous on account of the heavy wear of driving parts associated therewith.

An object of the invention is to provide a loom wherein the shuttle is positively moved throughout its path through the shed usually in both directions, the drive taking place through the lower threads of the shed.

To this end, the present invention broadly consists in shuttle driving mechanism for positively moving the shuttle of a loom preferably in both directions, through its shed, comprising in combination, a shuttle, guiding means therefor, a slide, preferably a reciprocating slide, arranged externally of said shed, means for moving said l slide transversely of the general direction of the warp threads, a rack parallel to the direction of and stationary with respect to the said movement of said slide, a gear wheel operatively related to said slide so as to be movable positively therewith and engaging said rack for rotation thereby during movement of said gear wheel with said slide, said gear wheel being in operative relation to said shuttle so that the said gear wheel and shuttle move together in passage of the shuttle through the shed and being adapted to mesh with the lower warp threads in rolling along said rack.

The aforesaid guiding means may be in the form of a reed-like notched bar passaged for the guidance of the shuttle, the edges of the notched bar directed towards the shed angle nearer to the cloth roller collectively serving as a beater for the weft threads, the notched bar serving for separating warp threads, beating-up weft and acting as a tubular race for the shuttle.

Notched strips may be provided for the warp threads disposed at or towards both sides of the shuttle track and particularly below the shuttle,

a plurality of warp threads being laid in the notches of said strips which notches are so spaced that gaps of suiilcient width are formed in the lower sheet of warp threads for the passage of the teeth of a gear wheel as aforesaid.

The reed serving elements of the notched bar may be so arranged in circular formation that they form an endless channel.

In one constructional form of the present invention the drive arrangement is such that the lower threads of the shed come between gear wheels which engage from opposite sides of the lower sheet of warp threads aforesaid.

More particularly, three gear wheels one large and two small whose engagement is effected through the lower sheet of warp threads are employed, said gear wheels intermeshing by means of their teeth with the lower warp threads lying between the addendum and root circles of the respective wheels. The two smaller gear wheels which are not in mesh with one another are arranged to be freely rotatable on a slide which, arranged without the shed, is movable transversely of the warp threads. The third wheel is rotatably mounted on the shuttle and engages simultaneously in a rack which is disposed below the lower sheet of warp threads of the shed. But for the rack the trailing wheel of the gear wheels of the moving slide would set the gear wheel of the shuttle in bodily movement only, transversely of the warp threads but in the presence of the rack the said shuttle gear wheel is caused to roll on the rack.

` The advantage of this arrangement consists in that the shuttle can be moved with a uniform movement positively from one side of the shed to the other and consequently minimize wear, such as is caused in customary looms by the impact drive. Owing to the positive drive for the loom shuttles, the conditions at the points of reversal of the movement can be more easily controlled mechanically, and it is consequently also possible to operate with a larger number of wefts than hitherto.

For the purpose of guiding the shuttle, there is provided a channel or race, preferably a tubular race, such as was hitherto only occasionally used in connection with circular looms, said race cornprising apertured spaced plates carried by a slotted bar and adapted to receive the warp threads therebetween in the manner of a reed. The guiding cross-section of the race may be of a shape, e. g., round or angular, adapted to the shape of the shuttle. The race also serves the purpose of a reed in beating up the pick of weft to the fell 3 or edge oi the material. For this purpose, the tubular race aforesaid is mounted to make the beating up movement of the sley of a loom, the guide track of the aforesaid driving slide participating in this movement.

While the shuttle carries the pick of weft through the shed, the lower threads of the shed successively lie between the teeth of the three interengaging gear wheels. In certain circumstances, the fact that the threads are disposed between the teeth of the gear wheels which are in engagement with one another can lead to damage to the threads. For avoiding this in'- convenience, therefore, it is advantageous to bunch or group the threads, so that they are jointly disposed in gaps which are formed' be'- tween the interengaging teeth. For this'purpose; notched or saw-toothed guide strips may be ar ranged at both sides of the shuttle path, 'parf ticularly beneath the shuttle. A plurality or" warp threads are disposed in the lower vertices of these saw-toothed guide strips and are in this way hunched or grouped. On account of this bunching, or grouping of the lower threads, gaps/are formed between the lower sheet of warp threads through which the teethv or the gear wheels are able freely to pass, while the bunched threads are received in the gaps which are formed between the tooth crests of one of the wheels and the tooth roots of the other wheel.

In another constructional form of the invention, there is arranged onthe reciprocating slide a gear wheel which engages through the aforesaid bunched warp threads in al recess of the shuttle which is rounded to correspond tothe addendum circle oi the gear wheel. Said gear wheel also engages in a rack disposed below the lower threads or the shed. When the slide carrying this gear is moved backwards and forwards transversely of the warp threads, the gear wheel is set in rotation by rolling along the rack, whereby the tips of the teeth of' said gear wheel exert a pushing force in the reduired'direction of move# ment on what for the time being is the leading end of the rounded recess of the shuttle. The shuttle is consequently driven alongv by the gear wheel' as it moves backwards and forwards with the slide. f s l In order to facilitate the rotational movement of the gear wheel, for the' purpose of meshing` with the warp threads ofA the shed below the shuttle, the tips of the teeth of said gear wheel may be provided with anti-friction means, e. g`., rollers or the'like.

Driving mechanismV according to the last inentioned constructional form the advantage of working with few rotating and intermeshing parts, soV that less supervision and lubrication is required. y Y

, Two preferred constructional forms of the invention are shown in the drawings, with reference to which the invention will now be more fully explained; and in which:

Figs. 1 to 6 illustrate one constructional for-m in which Fig. l is an elevation of the combined race, reed and sley device and the shuttle drive.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of Figure l, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the shuttle drive, partly in section.

Fig. 5 is a section along the line Figure 4.

une A-i of of the invention has' Fig. 6 is a vertical section along the line E-F of Figure 5.

Figs. '7 to 9 illustrate another constructional form in which:

Fig. 7 is an axial longitudinal section through the notched bar channel.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line A-B of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line C-D of Figure 8.

The shuttle@ I is guidedfior reciprocating movement in a notched bar` tubular'race 2. This notched bar tubular race is formed of individual plates between which the warp threads are .adapted to extend;` In the selected example, the shuttle and thus also the notched bar tubular race is of rectangular or square section; it is obvious, however, that both could be of a different shape to suit requirements. The weft thread, which is always to be deposited by the shuttle in the shed, issues from the notched bar tubular race through the slot 4, preferably by Away of a tubular thread guide ila.-

The shuttle Iis accurately guided in the notched bar tubular race. Advantageously guide rollers 5 are provided.

For the reciprocating movement of the shuttle, there is provided below the notched' bar'tubula'r race a slide 6, which can bel moved backwards and forwards along a guideway I. The re'cprol` eating movement is eiectedinlthel constructionalf example by a wire cable 8, which isl securedto areciprocating piston 9. It' is' obviously' possibleL to conceive of other driVingfmeanS-Or the slide 6'.-

Provided on the slid'e'i= are twoI gear-wheels |82 which are rotatable but are'not drive'n,saic'l4 gear wheels meshing with a larger'gearwheel I'I= which' is rotatably mounted on' the shuttleV I. larger gear wheel II', which'i's located' o'n` the in-K side of the lower threads of thel shed', in addi`` tion to meshing with the two smaller gear wheels,\ is also in mesh externally of'- the lowerthreads of the'shed with arack- I2 which extends transversely of theA warp threads,v also externally of' the shed. The arrangementr is such that the gear wheel II is wider, e. g., twice as wide as the' gear wheels IEI, to ensure the simultaneous engagement of the gear wheelv II with' the gear wheels l! and therack I2.

With the movement of the slide" E transversely of the warp threads the vgear wheelsh Iendeavou'r to roll on the gear wheel I I-. Howevenpwing: to

their arrangement onbothsides ofthe axis-pass# ing' perpendicularly through the point of rota" tion of the wheel I If,Y the trailing wheel for the time being of the wheels- I'I imparts a thrust on the gear wheel I If and butfor thepres'encefof the rack I2I would cause" wheel I'fI| to travel bodily' without rotation along with the slide, but in thel presence of the rack I2', the gear wheel If!A is' caused to roll on the rackv I2. Consequently', ifthe slide 6 is moved inione direction and then the other, the shuttle I' is simultaneously movedback-A wards and forwards withf4 theY same speed in the notched bar channel or tubular race', the? advanc-V ing movement being assured .as aforesaid',V and; in'

i addition the' gear 'wheel is caused to'V mesh with the' lower warp' threads of the shed in rolling' along the rack. The shuttle is thus moved posi`lv tively in both' directions throughout its` travel through thev shed;

As will be seen more particularly from Figure` 4, the gear wheels Il) andA II are' so in mesh with one another that gap-s rema-in between the' tips of the teeth of one wheel andthe tooth roots of the other gear wheel', it being possible for the' warp threads I3V or" the lower shed. toV lie in the' said gaps. It can also be seen from Figure 4 that the thread position is not disturbed by the provision of the rack. In order to prevent the threads from becoming damaged by the interengaging teeth, it is particularly advantageous to provide notched or saw-toothed guide strips I4 and I5 at both sides of the shuttle track and below the shuttle. The position of these guide strips is shown particularly clearly in Figure 2, while the shape and operation thereof will be appreciated from Figure 4. Two lower warp threads |3 of the shed are always located in each lower vortex point IS of the saw-toothed guide strips. Each time upper warp threads I3 are lowered the inclined faces of the teeth of the strips I 4 and I5 act as inclined planes to cause the said threads on reaching the end of their downward travel to group together in pairs at the bottom vortex points I of the teeth. The lower warp threads are thereby so hunched and collected in the vicinity of the space in which, on the one hand, the gear wheels It and II interengage and, on the other hand, the gear wheel I| meshes with the rack I2, that the teeth can engage through the lower sheet of warp threads without obstruction. The strips I 4 and I 5 could of course be constructed so that the lower warp threads become hunched in groups of more than two threads. y

From the foregoing description, it is seen that the shuttle can be positively moved backwards and forwards through the shed without the warp threads being damaged, the weft threads being placed in the open shed in the customary manner. As is also customary with other looms it is now necessary to effect the beating of the weft thread up to the fell or edge of the material. This purpose is served by the advancing edge Il of the notched bar tubular race (see more especially Figure 3). Consequently, the notched bar tubular race is arranged to execute the known movement of the sley of a loom. For this purpose, the notched bar tubular race is mounted to slide freely on a guideway l 9 preferably by using balls I8, although rollers could also be used instead of the balls. During the beating up of the weft thread in the shed, the notched bar tubular race is moved backwards and forwards on the guideway I9. The warp threads I3 and I3' are moved relatively in the spaces between the individual plates 3.

The driving slide 6 and its guide 1, and also the drive means 8, 9 appertaining thereto, must participate in each forward and backward movement. Accordingly, this part of the arrangement is suspended in a suitable manner on the notched bar channel and is also caused to participate in the movement.

In the constructional form according to Figs. 7 to 9 the shuttle IBI is also guided in the notched bar tubular race |02, which consists of the separate plates |53. The weft thread is led out of the notched .bar channel at IEM.

Rollers m5 can be provided for guiding the shuttle I0|. Located below the notched bar race |92 and below the shuttle I0| are the saw-toothed guide strips |06 and |01 in which the lower threads |98 of the shed are laid for the purpose of bunching or grouping the same.

The drive of the shuttle IIlI is effected by means of the gear wheel |99 which is mounted for free rotation on a reciprocating slide such as 6 of the first herein described construction. This gear wheel |99 engages in a rounded recess II!) of the shuttle lill and forces the shuttle forwards or 6 backwards in the notched bar race, by the thrust exerted by the tips of the teeth in the direction of movement on the rounded recess II 0.

As will be seen, the gear wheel |69 must rotate in order to be able to mesh with its'teeth with the lower threads of the shed. There is provided for this purpose a stationary pinned rod III which is disposed below the notched bar channel and outside the shed. The pins of the pinned rod compel the rotation of the wheel |69 and thus ensure the unimpeded movement of the shuttle while protecting the lower warp threads |03. In order to reduce the friction of the tips of the teeth on the rounded recess of the shuttle, they may be provided with rollers I2.

The position of the lower warp threads |98 and upper threads |ii8' of the shed with the shed open will be seen from Figure 9.

The individual parts of the arrangement according to the above described constructional forms of the invention are shown in a purely diagrammatic manner, and it is consequently possible to modify the constructional forms of the individual parts without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. Shuttle driving mechanism for positively moving the shuttle of a loom through its shed. comprising in combination, a shuttle, guiding means therefor, a slide arranged externally of said shed, means for moving said slide transversely of the general direction of the warp threads, a rack parallel to the direction of and stationary with respect to the said movement of said slide, a gear wheel operatively related to said slide so as to be movable positively therewith and engaging said rack for rotation thereby during movement of said gear wheel with said slide, said gear wheel being in operative relation to said shuttle so that the said gear wheel and shuttle move together in passage of the shuttle through the shed and being adapted to mesh with the lower warp threads of the shed in rolling along said rack.

2. Shuttle driving vmechanism according to claim 1, including means enabling the shuttle to be passed across then returned.

3. Shuttle driving mechanism according to claim l, having said guiding means in the form of a reed-like notched bar passaged for the guidance of the shuttle, the edges of the notched bar directed towards the shed angle nearer the cloth serving as a beater stop for the weft threads.

4. Shuttle driving mechanism according to claim l, having notched strips for the warp threads disposed at both sides of the shuttle path and below the shuttle, a plurality of warp threads being laid in the notches of said strips so that gaps are formed in the sheet of lower warp threads for the passage of the teeth of said gear wheel` 5. Shuttle driving mechanism according to claim 1, having the reed-serving elements of the notched bar so arranged in circular formation that they form an endless channel.

6. Shuttle driving mechanism for positively moving the shuttle of a flat loom through its shed, comprising in combination, a shuttle, guiding means therefor, a slide arranged externally of said shed, two non-meshing gear wheels mounted freely rotatable on said slide, means for moving said slide transversely of the general direction of the warp threads, a rack below the lower warp threads of said shed, paralthe loom through the shed and A lelitoithefdirectionio;.and stationary'withirespect torythef-said movement? offsaid slide,oa;1argerl gearA Wheel mountedzvon and: freely.v rotatable. with A re-4 spect tosaid shuttle; and; engaginglsaid' two gear wheelsi on said slidel so'asfto. be moved positively bytheslide in its. lateral. movement; th'esaid larger Wheel.Y also engaging.; through'. the. said. lower.' Warp. threads withn the.I san-id rack; fori roitation thereby during said: movement.l ofi said larger.' gear:` wheel l with'i said. slides. whereby the lateral: movement; of. the slide' ini moving the larger. Wheel, causes. the: passage4 of the shuttle through. the shed. duringy whichmovement. the

said'. larger: wheel' meshes: Withi the lower: warp'.`

threads of the she'dlinrfolling along said` rack.

7i Shuttlev driving mechanismv according. to

claim 6, including meansl. enabling the?l shuttle to be passed across the; loomA througlitheshed' and then returned:

8. Shuttle driving mechanism` according 'toV tozcorrespcndfwith' the addendum circle of the' gear Wheel;v

9. Shuttle, driving mechanism accordingv to claim 8, having-the teeth of the-gear Wheeltted with` rollers.

10'..:fhuttlefy driving mechanism according'v to' claim Lhaving'arack inthe form of'aV stationary pinn'edrod.

WILLI KEIL.

References' Cited in" the file. ofiA this'. patent; UNITED' STATESA PATENTS Number Name Date 42,986 Brown .May 31,1864 69,708- Rushworth Oct. 8,1867

618,214 Steere Jan. 24,1899 1,379,194` Le Blanc May 24, 19211- 1,840,975y Rockwood Jan. 12,1932. 2,006,723 Schafer July 2,',1935 2,193,453 Harris Mar. 12,1940.

FG'REIGN PATENTS Number Country Date4 404,431'. Great Britain Jan.. 18,I 1934 

